Maturing In Your Faith

This article was originally published in the Franklin News-Post.

One of my pastors, Mike Price, the pastor at T.R.A.S.H. Ministry in Collinsville, VA has an expression that he uses to encourage others.  He will say, “I am either up or I am getting up.”  What he is expressing through that simple statement is that He is pressing onward to a higher calling.  He confesses that he is not perfect.  He acknowledges that he struggles just like everyone else.  On occasion, he will slip down or take a spiritual sucker punch and get knocked down.  The key, as he reminds us, is not to stay down in our condition.

I have the privilege to minister to a small group of men one morning a week.  Many of these men are new to their Christian faith.  While others were raised in the church.  During one of our recent morning’s together, we engaged in a discussion about what it means to grow in your faith.  We talked about the evidence that will appear from a maturing of your faith.

Some evidence is external.  Others will notice that you are bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit as Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians.  Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) reveals these fruits as love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Other New Testament scripture reads, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (NKJV)

Some evidence is internal.  You may discover a desire to learn more about your faith.  Maybe you will have a yearning to go to God’s house.  Maybe you will want to be there for Bible study on Wednesday night, Sunday School on Sunday morning and Sunday service.  Maybe you will desire to connect with a small group study outside of church.

Still more evidence can be found if you reflect on your behavior and you discover that you respond to adversity differently than you used to respond.  Maybe in your past, if someone directed an angry comment toward you, your response would have been to meet this with an even greater tone and intensity.  Now, you realize that you exhibit greater self-control in such situations.

There is evidence that you are maturing in your faith if you discover that you are not slipping down as frequently.  And when you do get knocked down or you slip down, you don’t allow yourself to stay down.  You bounce back more quickly than you used to.

Just like a master craftsman, developing your faith does not happen without sacrifice.  It does not occur without putting in time to study God’s Word.  It requires an investment in His teachings.  It requires humility and a desire to be more Christlike.

Some Christians fall into the trap of thinking, “Well, God’s grace is sufficient.  It will cover me and my sin.”  That’s only a partial truth.  God’s grace is sufficient.  But, God does not want you to remain in the same sin condition where you were found.  When we slip up or backslide, it is God’s saving grace that redeems and restores us.  He does not want you to remain there.  He wants each one of us up; or getting up.

Some Christians, especially people new to their faith, often want to see how close they can live to their sin and still be covered by God’s grace.  Truthfully, He desires that we grow in our relationship with Him.  He desires that we walk in the righteousness of Christ.  He wants us to become Christlike in the way we live.  While our faith may never be perfected on this side of Glory, He wants us to press evermore into our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is a privilege to witness the spiritual growth these men are experiencing.  Take stock in the growth you have experienced to this point.  Do not rest on that growth.  Dig in and press on.  Take another step toward the righteousness of Christ.  As you do this, His light will shine even brighter through you that will impact someone else’s eternal life.  And, after all, isn’t that what this journey is all about.  Become disciples. And building His Kingdom!